Like most folks, I began using a couple of social media platforms just
thinking I’d try them out. Little did I
know then that they would become seemingly indispensable tools not only for
personal utilization but also for professional use. For me, one of the turning point moments came
when I learned over Twitter that Osama Bin Laden was dead, not on television or radio. If you are just getting into the Twitter game, or have been at it for a while, here are some of the things I think about when using this amazing platform.
5 things I look at when deciding to follow someone on
Twitter:
- The person or enterprise appears to have something interesting or useful to say on an ongoing basis. It helps to be at least slightly clever or creative. That can include work with photos or videos or curation of information on any number of subjects.
- The account holder generally uses acceptable language. Too much cursing is gross whether in private conversation or in public channels.
- If the person/enterprise is following me, I’m interested to see if they are Tweeting in an effective way. If they’re just lurking, I won’t follow.
- The user appears to be real and safe. With the risk that there’s something fraudulent or even technologically risky about the account, I’ll stay very far away.
- Is this someone I could help, such as an aspiring professional or artist, by following? No harm in giving it a shot.
5 things that help me decide not to follow someone on Twitter:
1.
There’s a long lag between Tweets, or no sign of
real presence on the platform. There’s
no set frequency that’s needed, but the user needs to be engaged.
2.
There’s no profile photo or description of the
account. Come on, how hard is it to upload a photo or image? Please don’t call
yourself a tech evangelist.
3.
An abundance of insults, of other users or
random targets, suggests following won’t be a positive experience.
4.
An extension of the last issue: tolerance. Is the account user intolerant of
others with different opinions, including in the political realm? There’s enough intolerance and hate in the world,
thank you.
5.
Careless writing, grammar or spelling are strong
clues that following could be a bad idea.
A bit of care, including a last-second look for an edit, before hitting “Tweet”
can make the different between adding followers, landing some Retweets and
Favorites or just getting lost in the Twitterverse.
